What I wish I knew before moving in

You may think you know it all but trust me you don't!

Moving to London for university was one of the most exciting moments of my life, but it was also one of the most overwhelming. I had never lived alone before, let alone in a different country. While there were many things I expected, there were also plenty of things that caught me completely off guard. Looking back now, there are a few things I wish someone had told me before I moved into my accommodation.

It takes time to feel at home

When I first moved in, everything felt unfamiliar. New room, new people, new city and a completely different routine. I remember unpacking my bags and thinking that it would take a long time before this room actually felt like mine.

What I realised after a few weeks was that this feeling is completely normal. Slowly, you start decorating your space, creating routines and getting used to your surroundings. Before you know it, the place that once felt so unfamiliar starts feeling like home. It also takes effort to belong to a space and here are some additional tips you can keep in mind to be successful in that!

Living with other people is an adjustment

One thing I definitely underestimated was how different it is to live with people you have never met before. Everyone has different routines, different habits and different expectations of shared spaces.

There will probably be moments where things do not go exactly how you imagined, but I found that communication makes a huge difference. Most small issues can be solved simply by talking to each other. At the same time, some of my favourite memories came from living with people from completely different backgrounds and cultures. In the case where things don't work out, find more advice here.

You do not need to buy everything immediately

Before moving in, I felt like I needed to have every possible kitchen utensil, decoration and household item ready from day one. In reality, I realised that I only used a small number of those things regularly.

It is much easier to move in with the essentials and then buy things as you realise you actually need them. Not only does this save money, but it also saves you from filling your room with things you may never use.

Homesickness is more common than you think

I think this was the biggest surprise for me. Even though I was incredibly excited to study at LSE, there were still days where I missed home, my family and the comfort of familiar surroundings.

The important thing to remember is that almost everyone goes through this at some point. Talking to friends, staying in touch with family and keeping yourself busy really helped me settle into university life much more quickly.

Enjoy the experience

If I could give myself one piece of advice before moving in, it would simply be to enjoy it. The first few weeks can feel stressful because everything is new, but they are also some of the most memorable weeks of university.

Moving abroad and starting university is a huge step, and it is okay if it takes time to adjust. Looking back now, I realise that all of the things I was worried about eventually worked themselves out. Before long, London stopped feeling like somewhere I was visiting and started feeling like home.